BSF-BGB conference

ANDREW W. LYNGDOH

Shillong, March 6: A 20-member delegation of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrived here today to take part in the inspectors-general BSF and regional commander BGB-level Border Coordination Conference where issues on militancy, smuggling and infiltration will be discussed.

The BGB delegation is led by Brig. Gen. Md Habibul Karim, the region commander (Northeast region). The Indian side consists of 22 members, led by Sudhir Kumar Srivastava, inspector-general (BSF), Guwahati.

The inspectors-general from Meghalaya and Tripura frontiers are also a part of the delegation.

The conference is held biannually between the two border forces. It aims at improving the border scenario and discuss issues related to the border which may affect peace and tranquillity. The conference will end on Sunday. The last such conference was held at Sylhet, Bangladesh in December 2012.

A BSF official said issues confronting the border areas with states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram would be deliberated upon at the conference.

The main concern from the Indian side is the smuggling of fake Indian currency through the border while the issues concerning Bangladesh is the smuggling of Phensedyl, a cough syrup, liquor and narcotics.